IP Library Granted Patent US 11,812,957
Granted Patent B2
US 11,812,957 · App. 16/895,291 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

Surgical instrument comprising a signal interference resolution system

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Jason L. Harris (Lebanon, OH); Patrick L. Creamer (New Orleans, LA)
Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
A61B17/072A61B17/07207A61B34/20A61B17/068A61B17/3423A61B34/37A61B34/76A61B2017/00039A61B2017/00477A61B2017/07214A61B2017/07285A61B2017/2927A61B2034/2055A61B2034/2072A61B2562/0223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,812,957
App. No.
16/895,291
Granted
Nov 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical instrument including a signal interference detection system.

Claims (38)

1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument control interface comprising an interface field detection sensor;

a first surgical instrument assembly configured to be attached to said surgical instrument control interface, wherein said first surgical instrument assembly comprises a first wireless communication module and a first field detection sensor;

a second surgical instrument assembly configured to be attached to said surgical instrument control interface, wherein said second surgical instrument assembly comprises a second wireless communication module and a second field detection sensor; and

a controller configured to:

receive wireless communication signals from said first wireless communication module containing data from said first field detection sensor and communication signals from said second wireless communication module containing data from said second field detection sensor; and

alert a user of the existence of field interference with said surgical instrument system based on said received wireless communication signals.

2. The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to assess whether said field interference is being generated by a source external to said surgical instrument system.

3. The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to assess when said field interference is constant and, when constant, discount the constant field interference while operating said surgical instrument system.

4. The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to assess when said field interference is stationary and, when stationary, discount the stationary field interference while operating said surgical instrument system.

5. The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to assess when said field interference is not constant and stationary and warn the user of the surgical instrument system that one or more systems of the surgical instrument system may not function properly.

6. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the operation of one or more said systems.

7. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the speed of one or more said systems.

8. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the torque of one or more said systems.

9. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the power of one or more said systems.

10. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by preventing the operation of one or more said systems.

11. The surgical instrument system of claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the direction of one or more said systems.

12. The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to assess whether said field interference is being generated by a source internal to said surgical instrument system.

13. The surgical instrument system of claim 12 , wherein said controller is configured to determine the origin of said field interference and reduce said field interference below a threshold.

14. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a first surgical instrument comprising a first field detection sensor;

a second surgical instrument comprising a second field detection sensor; and

a control circuit configured to:

receive a first signal from said first field detection sensor;

receive a second signal from said second field detection sensor; and

detect a field interference based on said received first signal and said received second signal.

15. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said first signal is indicative of a first sensor value, and wherein said control circuit is further configured to:

compare said first sensor value to expected values; and

detect said field interference further based on said comparison.

16. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to determine if said field interference is being generated by a source internal or external to said surgical instrument system.

17. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to:

determine if said field interference is constant; and

discount said field interference while operating said surgical instrument system based on said determination.

18. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to:

determine if said field interference is stationary; and

discount said field interference while operating said surgical instrument system based on said determination.

19. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is further configured to place said surgical instrument system in a limp mode by limiting the operation of one or more systems of the surgical instrument system.

20. The surgical instrument system of claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to determine the origin of said field interference and reduce said field interference below a threshold.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056601/0339 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2020
From: HARRIS, JASON L.; CREAMER, PATRICK L.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 053591/0122 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 053024 FRAME: 0924. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 053116/0390 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2020
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 053024/0924 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,213,670 US 12,383,263 US 12,408,967 US 12,622,721 US 12,702,409